Town News Briefing

TORRINGTON -- The National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes touched down Saturday in Washington and Torrington.

The Torrington twister traveled a half mile, and its funnel measured 200 yards, the weather service said. Authorities said it leveled a storage shed at a public school.

The tornado was classified as an F-2 level tornado, with winds of about 113 mph. There are five levels of tornadoes, and an F-5 category is the most extreme. An F-2 tornado can carry winds of as much as 157 mph. The winds of the Washington tornado whirled at speeds of 70 to 90 mph. Its funnel measured 50 yards, and it traveled a mile. It lasted a few minutes, the weather service said.

The Washington storm flattened a tennis pro shop at Lake Waramaug Country Club.

No one was injured by either tornado. But large trees were uprooted, and some power lines were knocked down.

SOUTH WINDSOR

Skydivers To Drop In

On School's Readers

SOUTH WINDSOR -- Skydivers will drop in today for Pleasant Valley School's ``Soaring to New Heights In Reading'' celebration.

Pleasant Valley students read a total of about 2.25 million minutes as part of the school's Read At Home program.

Two skydivers plan to parachute about 1:30 p.m. onto the elementary school's playground area with a backpack full of books, which will be handed out to students. The event is sponsored by the Pleasant Valley PTO.

SOUTH WINDSOR

Application Submitted

For New Golf Course

SOUTH WINDSOR -- The developers of Topstone Golf Course have submitted an application with town officials to build an 18-hole ``executive course'' on land nearby in the north end of town.

Kip Shepard, a resident whose family owns the land on Brookfield Street, said last week that he was working with Joseph Kelley of Portland, a longtime golf course developer, to build the new facility.

Shepard and Kelley teamed up in 1996 to build Topstone, the town's only golf course.

The 80-acre tract is on the east side of Brookfield Street, about 1,500 feet south of Topstone Golf Course and north of Sullivan Avenue.

The new course would have par-3 and par-4 holes and could be played in two to three hours. That kind of layout frequently is nicknamed an ``executive course'' because it is suitable for business people who can spare only a couple hours.

``It's basically a teaching facility with a small driving range,'' Kelley said.

Town officials said the land is in a rural residential zone where golf courses are allowed but require a special exception from the planning and zoning commission. A public hearing and wetlands permits also are required.

Officials said a public hearing on the application would be held in August or September.

The company has been invited to bid on a contract to provide a two-way communications system that will be used during the setup, rehearsal and production of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Marcus Communications has provided state-of-the-art radio communications systems for many special events, including the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, ESPN's X-Games and OpSail2000CT.

KILLINGLY

Troopers, Others

Plan Safety Clinic

KILLINGLY -- Hoping to spread the word about child safety, auto-theft prevention and the dangers of ``club drugs,'' the state police community policing unit at Troop D is planning an informational clinic for the public Saturday.

School resource officers will be on hand to fingerprint children with kits provided by Metropolitan Insurance investigator and former state trooper Laurent Guillot. The state police auto theft unit will hold a vehicle identification number etching clinic to deter car thieves and aid investigators in the recovery of stolen vehicles.

Wendy Moher, director of the Women's Center of Northeastern Connecticut, a rape crisis service, and center staff members will be on hand to educate women about the dangers of GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), one of the so-called ``club drugs'' that circulate at raves and nightclubs. GHB is also known as a date-rape drug.

The Killingly resident state trooper's office will showcase its bike patrol and have troopers available to meet with residents.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Killingly Memorial School, Route 12, in Danielson.

AVON

District To Start Search

For High School Principal

AVON -- The board of education has authorized Superintendent of Schools Richard Kisiel to start a nationwide search for the next principal of Avon High School.

Michael Buckley, who has served as Avon High's principal since 1987, plans to retire this fall, then start a new job as assistant executive director for the Connecticut Association of Schools in Cheshire.